College to hold reception to thank fire, rescue workers who saved gym

Western Maryland College officials will publicly thank fire and rescue personnel who worked to make sure a fire did not destroy Gill Gym on Dec. 31, 1996.

"Their efforts saved most of that building," said Robert Chambers, WMC president. "And what better way for us to show our gratitude than to invite them to our now-rebuilt facility?"

The reception and recognition ceremony will be held at 3: 30 p.m. Sunday at the gym, which was reopened this fall.

The large brick building, which less than a year ago was a hulk without a roof, houses a multipurpose gym, including a synthetic floor lined for several sports, indoor batting cages that are lowered from the ceiling, and a large downstairs meeting room.

About 200 personnel from 20 companies, including all Carroll County fire departments and others from Baltimore, Frederick and Howard counties and southern Pennsylvania, responded to the fire New Year's Eve.

Auxiliaries from several companies also spent the day serving coffee, soft drinks and doughnuts to firefighters.